121 mohalla clinics on government list, corp finds few sites

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government had requested the municipal corporations two weeks ago to provide 121 sites for mohalla clinics. However, the civic bodies seem to be in no mood to give any land.

In its report, North Delhi Municipal Corporation found that of the 61 sites requested, none could be used for the purpose. North Delhi mayor Preety Agarwal said they have requested the Delhi government to give a report on the existing mohalla clinics. “The Delhi government has failed to run the existing mohalla clinics and they are asking for more land. We have sought a report on the record of the existing ones. If they are running properly, then we will see what we can do. But most of the sites requested cannot be transferred to them,” she said.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had convened a meeting on August 23 to request various agencies and departments to provide land for the project. In all, 870 locations were identified for setting up mohalla clinics.

Most of the sites with the corporations are located on the premises of primary schools, community centres, parks or welfare centres. A senior north corporation official said, “We were asked to check the feasibility of setting up these facilities on these premises. Since the locations are under the departments of education, horticulture, community service and engineering, we had asked them. All the replies that we got were negative”.

East corporation officials may also turn down the request based on the feasibility reports that they have received. “There are issues regarding the master plan too. For instance, a land meant for a school cannot be used for anything other than for educational purposes,” said a senior official from South Corporation.

The civic bodies are in final phase of compiling the feasibility reports that will be sent to the Delhi government’s department of health and family welfare. Even if a few sites are found to be suitable, the process of land transfer demands an approval from the House, which is dominated by BJP. Also, DDA’s approval will be required for change in land use.

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